Basketball New Zealand

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2006 Otago Nuggets import Branduinn Fullove (Photosport)

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Former Otago Nuggets import Jameel Pugh (Photosport)

Itís so predictable, you can almost set your watch by it Ö the 2007 Dominion Finance NBL is a month old and the import merry-go-round has begun.

This annual phenomenon actually started two weeks ago when Century City Wellington Saints dispatched American point guard JD Collins. But it switched into top gear this week with three restricted players sent packing Ö and the return of a couple of familiar faces.

Saints were in the act again, as they tend to be every season, when they re-instated injured centre Nick Horvath, released his temporary replacement Andrew Rice and then brought in big American Bakari Hendrix (2.07m) to fill Collinsí spot.

As soon as he was available, Rice apparently became the subject
of a bidding war for his services and the winners were Ö Easy LPG Bay Hawks.

To make way for the Aussie, the defending champions dropped Canadian Shane Nicely, who had been a solid performer (15.3 points, 60% FG, 40% 3pt, 6.8 rebounds) despite two sprained ankles. He couldnít continue like that and the Hawks couldnít afford to wait for his recovery.

The third casualty sees Cartridge World Otago Nuggets dispense with American forward Jameel Pugh.

When he arrived in New Zealand, Pugh was billed as one of the worldís greatest dunkers and Otago officials were determined he would be more than just a sideshow. Ironically, he was not even that Ö if he had been, he might still be here.

ìJameel is a talent,î confirmed Nuggets coach Rick Castle. ìHeís a very likeable person Ö thereís nothing wrong with him in that regard.

ìBut you can never tell how someone will fit in on the court and with team chemistry until they get here. Things just werenít working out Ö it was nothing against Jameel as an individual or a player.î

Part of Pughís problem was his inability to provide consistent scoring on a team that needed their imports to shoulder that burden. Castle thinks he probably should have played to his strength and thrown down a few more dunks.

ìJameel actually shot the ball quite well in practice, he just struggled in games. He showed he could go to the ring almost at will, but settled for the outside shot too much.î

While Pugh was always a gamble, his replacement may be all too well known to the NBL. Otago are working feverishly to bring back American Branduinn Fullove, who left New Zealand last season with a charge of throwing the ball at a referee handing over him.

No further action was taken and Castle dismisses the matter as an over-reaction.

ìI still think the whole thing was blown out of proportion,î he says. ìIt shouldnít be an issue and never should have gone as far as it did.

ìThe incident was more a reflection of that game than Branduinn himself. If you look at his record as a player, you would find nothing like that previously.î

Should the final details be sorted, Fulloveís addition would still leave the Nugs a big man short, although his combination with scoring leader Justin Bailey could be a real treat if they can complement, not compete against, each other.

ìHeís a scorer and will give us a dynamic scoring duo,î says Castle. ìI think they will click immediately.î

Head to Head

Dominion Finance NBL Guide (Round Five) (pdf 1.1MB)